On this day in history, July 21st 1954, landscaping in Queen Elizabeth Park was completed after a decade-long transformation. To mark the occasion, Vancouver Mayor Fred Hume buried a time capsule beneath ‘Centuries Rock’ which is to be opened in 2054. [source] The park was previously a large quarry, which you can still make out today by looking over its concave landscape.
Between 1908 & 1910. The Reeve and Councillors inspecting Little Mountain Quarry. Archives item# Dist P145.
Sitting on top of Little Mountain in Vancouver, the land was originally owned by Canadian Pacific Railway. The basalt quarry was closed in 1911 and its 94 acres lay vacant until it was sold off for $100,000 in 1928 to a not-yet amalgamated City of Vancouver and the Municipalities of South Vancouver and Point Grey. [source]
1938. View of Vancouver from Queen Elizabeth Park. Archives item# Van Sc P125. Photographer: Leonard Frank
The idea to transform the quarry to gardens was conceived as early as the 1930s. The park was then dedicated in 1939 when King George VI visited Vancouver. In fact it’s named after King George VI’s consort, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mum). Over the next 15 years, the Vancouver Park Board (led by William Livingstone) would slowly convert the land into lush, blossoming, sunken gardens. With landscaping finished in 1954 (and the time capsule buried) the park was fully complete by the early 1960s.
1970. The gardens. Archives item# CVA 1502-1022.
The park’s development continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s (with a financial boost from Prentice Bloedel) and even up until 2007 when the plaza renovation was completed.
Queen Elizabeth Park is home to Vancouver’s highest pitch & putt course, lawn bowling, disc golf (or frolf), Seasons in the Park, the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, the arboretum and of course the quarry gardens.
2010. View of Vancouver from Queen Elizabeth Park. Photo credit:
keepitsurreal on Flickr
Offering some of the most beautiful views, lush garden paths, water features, and occasionally a roaming theatrical production, the park that was once a quarry is now an urban oasis. Located just off the Canada Line (between Cambie and Main, 29th and 37th) Visit for a picnic, a peaceful walk among the flowers, or before heading to a Vancouver Canadians game down at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Related: Photo Session Statues; QE Park Zipline
The Khatsahlano! Festival hits West 4th this Saturday between Burrard and MacDonald streets. The street-wide festival will have concert performances from Yukon Blonde, The Evaporators, Aidan Knight and many more on five stages (two big ones at Vine and Cypress and three smaller stages at Maple, Arbutus and Yew).
Grant McDonagh of Zulu Records spoke with The Vancouver Sun about the event. “McDonagh said the idea of making the music component an integral part of Khatsahlano! came about following the demise of Hippie Days in 2009, when Zulu hosted small performances in a tent in front of its shop.”
All festivities and activities are free of charge and suitable for the whole family. Stop by the Khatsahlano! Festival between 11:00am and 6:00pm Saturday, July 23, 2011. Find out more on the Facebook Event page or on the “Everything you need to know about Khatsahlano!” post by Kitsilano.ca.
Throughout the Summer, Vancouver International Airport (“YVR”) will again be hosting Take Off Fridays, which began last summer to engage travelers and locals alike. This free event takes place every Friday from July 9th until August 27th between 8:00am- 4:00pm and features giveaways, food specials, face painting, music and more.
Having enjoyed this event a few times with the kids last year, we decided to hop on the Canada Line and check it out again over at the domestic terminal. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that due to its popularity, Take Off Friday events and activities have expanded into the international terminal as well.
We were greeted by music from a live DJ and some lovely young people passing out ice cold cans mini-cans of Sprite. Before we knew it the boys were getting their faces painted along with lots of other kids and adults.
This year, when you spend $10 or more at YVR you can be entered for a chance at 15 seconds in the YVR Money Machine, located in the international terminal. I was given the chance to try it out and it was a lot of fun — but harder than it looks! You can win “YVR Bucks” that can then be spent within the airport.
For those lucky enough to be actually catching a flight somewhere you will be treated to more delights after security, including free Tai Chi lessons which is something not offered by any other airport in the world.
We are fortunate here in BC to be home to one of the world’s best airports. It’s worth taking a few hours to go explore, shop, dine or just hang out and enjoy the observation deck, whether you are flying away or staying home this summer.
This post was written exclusively for Miss604.com by Jennifer Miles who contributes seasonal & family-friendly pieces such as where to get the best Christmas trees, tips for the pumpkin patch, and back to school essentials.
Today is the first day of the Neanderthal Arts Festival at the Vancouver Eastside Cultural Centre (July 21 to 30), a developmental festival featuring new and experimental work by local theatre companies, and one from Montreal.
This year’s line-up includes a play about a pregnant man (My Pregnant Brother/Freestanding Productions), a musical about a bigamist (Homecoming King/Thirty Below Theatre), a Dadaist take on contemporary life (The Gas Heart/Gas Heart Theatre), a Beckett-like parable about a man building a chair (Chairs: A Parable/ITSAZOO Productions), and a verbatim-based theatre story about family communication (Other Side Through You/exit.left productions).
The line-up also includes Walking Fish: Science & Transformation, three new theatre shorts commissioned by the Neanderthal Arts Festival.
Though I’m going to try to catch as many plays as I can in next 10 days, I’m for sure going to see what ITSAZOO Productions has in store, as I’ve been a fan of their work for years. The company started in 2004 in Victoria and primarily does site-specific productions and “black box” shows (which is a theatre term that means they can bring their shows anywhere, like in a black box).
Written by one of the company’s co-artistic producers, Sebastien Archibald, Chairs: A Parable is a comedy that tells the story of three men as they attempt to build a civilized existence for themselves in a barren wasteland. But when one of the men builds a giant chair, everything in their new world changes.
“It’s an exploration of hierarchy in our society and looks at what it occurs and how it’s constructed,” says Chelsea Haberlin, co-artistic producer of ITSAZOO and director of Chairs: A Parable.
Though the play is absurdist and draws inspiration from existential playwright and Director Samuel Beckett, it’s been made accessible for this generation. In addition, there will also a backdrop featuring flash animation as well as found-sound musicscape playing throughout the show.
“It’s a simple story about a chair but it definitely explores big ideas.”
Presented as part of the Neanderthal Arts Festival, Chairs runs until July 30. For ticket information please contact The Vancouver East Cultural Center (“The Cultch”) box office. For more information, you can follow the festival on Twitter and Facebook.
This feature was written exclusively for Miss604 by actor, writer, and producer, Michelle Kim. Read all posts contributed by Michelle for Miss604.com and follow her on Twitter @miju.
The Harmony Arts Festival is West Vancouver’s annual 10-day summer celebration of all things food, performing arts, and visual arts happening July 29th to August 7th, 2011.
Concerts
Jeremy Fisher, The Dustin Bentall Outfit, Jim Byrnes, and more will have late evening performances on the Garden Stage at dusk (8:45 pm). We Are the City, Headwater, and more will take to the Sunset Stage at 7:30 pm.
Visual Arts
Visit the Art Market July 29th to August 1st, drop in on the ArtSpeak tent for daily programs, or do the Re/Max Studio Tour as artist studios and galleries host open houses throughout the festival.
Cinema in the Park
The free outdoor movie series comes to John Lawson Park presenting Pollock July 29th and Slumdog Millionaire on August 5th.
For Kids
KinderTunes and Creative Kids Day will host family-friendly concerts and activities including appearances by Bobs & Lolo, and Music with Marnie.
The Harmony Arts Festival will be located on the waterfront between 14th Street and 16th Street (and you’ll find a Wine Garden at the foot of 15th Street in Millenium Park). While the concert series and outdoor movies are free to attend, there are a few select ticketed events such as Best of the West.
Happening Thursday, August 4th from 7:30pm to 10:30pm at The Pier (foot of 14th Street) Best of the West is a food tasting and wine pairing event with 10 restaurants and 10 wineries.
Beachside Forno, Carmelo’s Ristorante, Fraîche Restaurant, La Régalade French Bistro, Louis Gervais Fine Foods & Catering, Mangia E Bevi, Restaurant Chez Michel, The Beach House Restaurant, The Observatory Restaurant, and Zen Japanese Restaurant will be represented. Participating wineries include Black Hills Estate Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars, CedarCreek Estate Winery, haywire, JoieFarm, Laughing Stock Vineyard, Mission Hill Family Estate, Poplar Grove Winery, Quail’s Gate, and Tantalus Vineyards.
Tickets for Best of the West are $75 and I also have a pair to give away. If you would like to attend the Best of the West, here’s how you can win your way in.
Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite West Vancouver attraction or restaurant (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner next Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 10:00am. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win. Please enjoy responsibly and plan a safe ride home.
Pick up the free Harmony Arts Festival iPhone app and follow them on Twitter or Facebook for more information.
Update The winner is Marlis!
